Continuous rail-brace



(No Model.)

W. G. GRAHAM.

CONTINUOUS RAIL BRAGE.

Patened June 21, 1898.

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*u 14527746.56 e J -jiwenor ilwrTnn STATES PATENT Ormea.

IVILLIAM GRANT GRAHAM, 0F STANLEY, KANSAS.

CONTINUOUS RAIL-BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,866, dated June 21, 1898. Application filed May 24,1397. Serial No. 637,987. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GRANT GRA' HAM, of Stanley, Johnson county, Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Continuous RaiLBraces, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to continuous trackbraces particularly for use upon curves and leads of switches.

As well known the tendency of the rails at curves in a railroadtrack is to spread or move farther apart and consequently a continuous lateral strain is imposed .upon the spikes which hold the rails to the ties, particularly the. outer rails of the track, so that at frequent intervals the rails have to be respiked tothe ties, which results, of course, in weakening the tie, owing to the fact that water gets in the spike-holes and rots it. When a tie' gets in this condition, of course, it is absolutely lessential that it be replaced by a new one.

This trouble occurs in about the same degree with all rail-braces which are not continuous-that is to say, with all braces which do not extend across the track and tie both rails together. tie itself is such a brace taken with the spikes, and therefore I do not refer in this connection to any but all-metal continuous braces.

The object of my invention is to obviate the expense of respikin g such independent braces or the rails themselves to the ties at frequent intervals and also the danger it presents to persons and property traveling over the road provided therewith.

A further object of the invention is to produce a brace of this character which is simple, strong, and inexpensive of manufacture and which can be easily and quickly placed in or removed from position without affecting in the slightest degree the position ofthe trackrails to which it is applied.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In orderthat the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Of course, broadly considered, the

Figure l represents a perspective view of a continuous rail-brace embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional View of the same and illustrates it in operative posi tion with relation' to the track-rails. Fig. 8 represents a perspective view of a part of one end of the brace as viewed from its under side.

The brace comprises, essentially, four parts-the turnbuckle or nut,two rods for engagement with the turnbuckle or nut and the rails, and the key or cotter for connecting one of said rods with the turnbuckle or nut. It also comprises four other parts, which make the 4device more effective in operation and which almost invariably will form part and parcel of the continuous brace.

In the said drawings, l designates two tierods, provided with threaded inner ends, as at 2, one being a right-hand thread and the other a left-hand thread. At a point about midway of their length they are widened, as at 3, and iiattened to form the base-plates 4, which at their outer ends are bent upwardly and inwardly, as at 5, so as to conform to the contour of the outer anges of the parallel track-rails, and are then bent vertically upward, as at G, to bear squarely against the outer sides of the web or neck portions of the rails and against the under side of the ball or head of the rails. Said base-plates are also formed about their middle with the apertures or openings 7 for a purpose which will be presently explained.

8 designates a turnbuckle or nut which is mounted operatively upon the oppositelythreaded ends of the rods l in order that said rods may be moved endwise toward or from each other.

9 designates a key or cot/ter which extends, when the parts are operatively arranged,

Lthrough alined openings in the turnbuckle or nut and one ofthe rods l in order to prevent accidental turning or twisting movement of the brace when performing its function.

In practice when it is desired to brace two f rails together, as shown in Fig.` 2, the turnbuckle or nut is manipulated so as to move the rods the required distance apart. It is ICO ` portion of the rails.

is then rotated in the proper direction to cause the rods to approach each other until the iianges or bent portions 5 and 6 bear squarely against the outer side of the rails, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. Then this occurs, the key or cotter 9 is itted through the openings of the turnbuckle or nut and the rod, which now register, and back rotation of the nut is reliablyguarded against. These braces are arranged between the ties and are not necessarily spiked 0r secured thereto.

In practice a number should be used at each curve at points ive feet (more or less) apart, the number of braces being determined, of course, by the weight of the rails themselves, the abruptness of the curve, &e.

The lLie, as arranged and thus far eonstructed, is adapted simply as a means for preventing the rails spreading or moving farther apart. At most curves, however,the tendency of the outer rail in particular, against which the moving train always crowds, is in time to tilt outwardly,l and to prevent such a contingency I have provided other members of this brace, hereinbefore referred to. They comprise the clamp blocks or plates 10, which iit squarely upon the base-plates 4i inward of the rails and are recessed, as at 11, at their outer ends, so as to it squarely and snugly upon the inner base-flanges of the rails and against the inner sides of the web They are provided with depending lugs which project through the openings 12 of the base-plate, and said lugs are provided in turn with openings 13, through which extend the split wedges or keys 1li, so as to resist, by bearing against the bottom of said base-plates, any tendency of the plates or blocks 10 to rise under the lifting force applied by the rails themselves each time the train passes over them. In order to insure that these plates or blocks are clamped firmly and squarely down upon the flanges of the rails, the keys 14 are, as hereinbefore indicated, wedge -shaped, so that as they are driven into place theybring the plate or block firmly down upon the rails, and they are of the split type in order that they may posi- A tively maintain such position.

It will be understood, of course, that this brace may be employed in many connections not necessary to mention herein and that various changes in the form, proportion, or detail construction of parts will not be a departure from the spirit and scope oi' my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A continuous rail-brace, comprising a pair of rods l, flattened to form the base-plates i, said base-plates provided with openings 7, their inner ends being adapted to be received by a turnbuekle 8, which is mounted upon said inner ends thereof, a key or eotter 9, adapted to be inserted through an opening in one end of the turnbuekle, and a corresponding opening through one end of rod 1, clamp-block 10, provided with pendent lugs 12, adapted to be inserted through the openings in base-plates 4, said lugs provided with openings also to receive split Wedge 14, to prevent disengagement as fully set forth and described.

In testimony whereof I affix :my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM GRANT GRAHAM.

Vitnesses:

J. R. SLOAN, S. L. RUNNER. 

